Why Do The Admin Branch Stand In Our Way?
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Re: Why Do The Admin Branch Stand In Our Way?
Nothing changes, does it. This thread illustrates perfectly one of my reasons for leaving all those years ago. Nibbled to death by ducks. 
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Re: Why Do The Admin Branch Stand In Our Way?
W T N
"Now I’m sure MP’s and Civil Servants do not have so many handbrakes when they are claiming duty mileage."
I cannot speak for MPs but the experiences of this Civil Servant working for the MoD is the same as yours. I am entitled to use my own transport if I wish but only at the lower rate. The higher rate is only applicable if the service cannot provide me with transport. As for driving MT - look up the regulations (Do not take hearsay as gospel) for the insurance rules. See if it says that if you are in an accident caused by you then you will have to claim off your own comprensive motor insurance policy! This rule applies to Civil Servants. When driving our own vehicles for duty purposes we have to be insured for such purposes. My insurance company does not regard anything other than 'home to NORMAL place of work' as covered.
PS: Is George Galloway MP being paid by us while he is (By his own choice) appearing on TV)? Surely as a matter of principle he will be on unpaid leave !!!!! If he is cut off from the outside world, how do his constituants contact him if necessary?
We knew how to whinge but we kept it to the NAAFI bar.
"Now I’m sure MP’s and Civil Servants do not have so many handbrakes when they are claiming duty mileage."
I cannot speak for MPs but the experiences of this Civil Servant working for the MoD is the same as yours. I am entitled to use my own transport if I wish but only at the lower rate. The higher rate is only applicable if the service cannot provide me with transport. As for driving MT - look up the regulations (Do not take hearsay as gospel) for the insurance rules. See if it says that if you are in an accident caused by you then you will have to claim off your own comprensive motor insurance policy! This rule applies to Civil Servants. When driving our own vehicles for duty purposes we have to be insured for such purposes. My insurance company does not regard anything other than 'home to NORMAL place of work' as covered.
PS: Is George Galloway MP being paid by us while he is (By his own choice) appearing on TV)? Surely as a matter of principle he will be on unpaid leave !!!!! If he is cut off from the outside world, how do his constituants contact him if necessary?
We knew how to whinge but we kept it to the NAAFI bar.
Re: Why Do The Admin Branch Stand In Our Way?
The rules may be daft, but they are safeguarding public money. However the rules can work in your favour: we were boltholed to another airfield about 30 miles away via windy, narrow country lanes. But MT were not allowed to use said roads and had to take a 50 mile route. Ergo, the 'official'' sanctioned claim was for the MT route, so we all made out on the 6 months of home to duty.
Back to the point, for goodness sakes, get down to MT and explain the requirement. A vehicle will almost certainly be provided, and since most MT these days is designed to look icognito, the cars have improved greatly and usually have radios.
Do not use your own car. If the thousand to one chance comes up and you have a prang, it almost certainly will not be covered.
Back to the point, for goodness sakes, get down to MT and explain the requirement. A vehicle will almost certainly be provided, and since most MT these days is designed to look icognito, the cars have improved greatly and usually have radios.
Do not use your own car. If the thousand to one chance comes up and you have a prang, it almost certainly will not be covered.
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Re: Why Do The Admin Branch Stand In Our Way?
Originally Posted by Wingswinger
Nothing changes, does it. This thread illustrates perfectly one of my reasons for leaving all those years ago. Nibbled to death by ducks.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Re: Why Do The Admin Branch Stand In Our Way?
Hmmm, remember being based at a unit with no domestic accommodation and having to live out. Only two routes to the site from off-base accom, one short one of about 7 miles, one long one of about 15 miles. Twas in the days of IRA terrorist attacks and the order came down that we were to vary our route to and from work.
Duly varied our route in every day, route selected by a toss of a coin. Put in mileage claim at end of month. Rejected - the only allowable mileage was the direct route.
I just love joined up organisations.
Duly varied our route in every day, route selected by a toss of a coin. Put in mileage claim at end of month. Rejected - the only allowable mileage was the direct route.
I just love joined up organisations.
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Re: Why Do The Admin Branch Stand In Our Way?
Is it not the case the Admin Branch only apply the rules and do not make them. Surely if they were to allow things not allowed by the rules then they would be in dereliction of duty and could be charged. Perhaps if you dont like a rule you might find one more to your liking that overules the disliked one.
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Re: Why Do The Admin Branch Stand In Our Way?
"The truth is that many people set rules to keep from making decisions."
Mike Krzyzewski
"An expert is someone who has succeeded in making decisions and judgements simpler through knowing what to pay attention to and what to ignore.”
Edward de Bono
I recall a similar bon mot to the effect that if you only allow people to make unimportant decisions, the decisions they make become of great importance (to them !).
Mike Krzyzewski
"An expert is someone who has succeeded in making decisions and judgements simpler through knowing what to pay attention to and what to ignore.”
Edward de Bono
I recall a similar bon mot to the effect that if you only allow people to make unimportant decisions, the decisions they make become of great importance (to them !).
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Re: Why Do The Admin Branch Stand In Our Way?
Originally Posted by Gainesy
Would it be better to address this problem?
Thousands of pieces of 'handle like eggs' kit manages to get to and from the unit I am at every year without any problems.
If you haven't got someone at the dispatching unit who is capable of wrapping an item up in bubble wrap and sticking it in a box full of flo pak pop down to your friendly R&D section and I'm sure that with a few tins of larger thrown their way they'll pack it properly for you.
Re: Why Do The Admin Branch Stand In Our Way?
Originally Posted by The Helpful Stacker
your friendly R&D section and I'm sure that with a few tins of larger thrown their way they'll pack it properly for you.
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Why Bother?
Originally Posted by Well Travelled Nav
Next week I have to go and collect some valuable items for my Boss from another RAF base as I do not trust the RAF supply system not to break the items.
However, I inquired what hoops I had to jump through to get the Official Duty Rate (ODR) since I assumed my task was DUTY !!
Apparently all ODR claims on my station have to be approved by OC ADMIN who apparently has only ever approved 1 previous ODR claim in his entire career (Proud Statement ?).
The Hoops
1. My vehicle must be appropriately insured.
2. In the future my vehicle could be used in lieu of service transport
(What a rule invented by someone just to stop people bothering to claim what is rightfully theirs!!)
Now I’m sure MP’s and Civil Servants do not have so many handbrakes when they are claiming duty mileage.
Why is it that Admin are always standing in the way?
Add this to why people are hacked off.
RANT OFF
WTN
However, I inquired what hoops I had to jump through to get the Official Duty Rate (ODR) since I assumed my task was DUTY !!
Apparently all ODR claims on my station have to be approved by OC ADMIN who apparently has only ever approved 1 previous ODR claim in his entire career (Proud Statement ?).
The Hoops
1. My vehicle must be appropriately insured.
2. In the future my vehicle could be used in lieu of service transport
(What a rule invented by someone just to stop people bothering to claim what is rightfully theirs!!)
Now I’m sure MP’s and Civil Servants do not have so many handbrakes when they are claiming duty mileage.
Why is it that Admin are always standing in the way?
Add this to why people are hacked off.
RANT OFF
WTN
Why bother with MT, Travel Claims..., Insurance etc. etc. Call FedEx.., they will uplift from RAF XXX and deliver next day to RAF YYYY. The goods will be insured, and you can track the consignment fom start to finish. It will cost a lot less than your time, (unless that is you are not gainfully employed in your current role...,) You will also save on the cost of MT, fuel, insurance etc. and any other costs associated with moving the items. Send the bill to OC Supply, and explain why you incurred the costs in the first place e.g. you can't trust the current supply/distribution system! No.., I am not employed by a freight forwarding company...!
Best of luck!
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Send the bill to OC Supply, and explain why you incurred the costs in the first place e.g. you can't trust the current supply/distribution system!
There are actually a number of private courier services contracted to the RAF for moving priority/v&a items etc who could probably be utilised if you were to approach this matter in the correct manner (through you unit Supply Sqn) rather than off your own back.
The Hoops
1. My vehicle must be appropriately insured.
2. In the future my vehicle could be used in lieu of service transport
Now I’m sure MP’s and Civil Servants do not have so many handbrakes when they are claiming duty mileage.
Same rules for Civil Servants. Not sure about MPs. They probably get limos. I seem to recall the way round 2. was to have named drivers on your insurance, meaning MoD had to obtain necessary fully comp insurance for your car. Unlikely. Nowadays, all you have to do is have your line manager approve higher rate in advance. Remember, admin (or "Finance") never "approve" money, they simply "endorse". Completely different thing.
1. My vehicle must be appropriately insured.
2. In the future my vehicle could be used in lieu of service transport
Now I’m sure MP’s and Civil Servants do not have so many handbrakes when they are claiming duty mileage.
Same rules for Civil Servants. Not sure about MPs. They probably get limos. I seem to recall the way round 2. was to have named drivers on your insurance, meaning MoD had to obtain necessary fully comp insurance for your car. Unlikely. Nowadays, all you have to do is have your line manager approve higher rate in advance. Remember, admin (or "Finance") never "approve" money, they simply "endorse". Completely different thing.
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Life assurance and use of MT
Whilst I think that the originator of this thread is being somewhat petulant, it gives me the opportunity to highlight a life assurance issue.
Many of you, poor churls, will have life assurance linked to endowment policies. Most policies will have a military exclusion clause, to wit, exempting the insurers from paying out if death or an incapacitating injury occurs if said injury was the result of 'military duties'. Several years ago, whilst still wearing 'light blue' I challenged my insurers on what defined military duties. In essence it was anything that happened whilst on duty. I mooted several mundane scenarios - eg being killed in a car crash on the M4 in an MT vehicle or being zapped by the elderly COMPAQ 286s that lurked in the far recesses of the office. The answer was as predictable as it was shameful: the Military Exclusion Clause would apply.
Bearing in mind that these two policies had been sold to me by an ex RN officer, who was 'accredited' to the Mess, where I signed up the two policies, I petitioned the insurer on two grounds: firstly their agent, in full knowledge of my circumstances, had sold inappropriate financial instruments and secondly, I had demonstarted due diligence as to the nature of my employ and therefore the risks entailed therein. After considerable correspondence, the insurer agreed to review the exclusion clauses on the event of my death; I have added their letter as a codicil to my will. The little faith that I had in the Capitalist system crumbled away at this juncture...
Many of you, poor churls, will have life assurance linked to endowment policies. Most policies will have a military exclusion clause, to wit, exempting the insurers from paying out if death or an incapacitating injury occurs if said injury was the result of 'military duties'. Several years ago, whilst still wearing 'light blue' I challenged my insurers on what defined military duties. In essence it was anything that happened whilst on duty. I mooted several mundane scenarios - eg being killed in a car crash on the M4 in an MT vehicle or being zapped by the elderly COMPAQ 286s that lurked in the far recesses of the office. The answer was as predictable as it was shameful: the Military Exclusion Clause would apply.
Bearing in mind that these two policies had been sold to me by an ex RN officer, who was 'accredited' to the Mess, where I signed up the two policies, I petitioned the insurer on two grounds: firstly their agent, in full knowledge of my circumstances, had sold inappropriate financial instruments and secondly, I had demonstarted due diligence as to the nature of my employ and therefore the risks entailed therein. After considerable correspondence, the insurer agreed to review the exclusion clauses on the event of my death; I have added their letter as a codicil to my will. The little faith that I had in the Capitalist system crumbled away at this juncture...
Last edited by Cambridge Crash; 6th Feb 2006 at 16:09.
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Life Assurance and use of MT
I would start a new thread on this topic....., there must be many serving at this time who have either accepted the clause, or have found a policy that specifically applies to current serving servicemen/women. I understood that there were some Ins companies that specifically covered our specific circumstances..... (no names as I do not wish to promote any specific company) but keep your distance from MANDRAKE in Cambridge.
Below the Glidepath - not correcting
Proud to miss the point as ever, but if he's your boss and he's also a mate could you not suck up the 423.7 pence difference as well..., well, almost like a favour really. If he's not your mate, but still your boss, wouldn't doing this count as an extra curricular activity for your annual report, so you wouldn't have to go and fiddle with boy scouts or deploy to some dangerous Theatre of Ops like Innsworth say, in order to get promoted to AVM?
"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do to get ODR" doesn't have quite the same resonance as the original.
"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do to get ODR" doesn't have quite the same resonance as the original.
